By the 254.ke Newsroom
Kenya’s Ministry of Health planned to send 46 more Ebola contacts home from quarantine on 3 November 2026, but the country cannot yet say when the outbreak will be declared over. The official 42-day countdown has not started, and it only begins once every active infection has cleared, according to the ministry’s update reported on 30 October.
The outbreak stands at nine confirmed cases and two deaths, all in one cluster with no community transmission reported. The last new case was confirmed on 19 October, which makes today roughly 15 days without a new infection, going by the dates in published reports.
Where does Kenya’s Ebola outbreak stand on 3 November?
- Confirmed cases: 9, after a ninth case, a 24-year-old family member who was already in quarantine, tested positive on 19 October.
- Deaths: 2, according to the 30 October ministry update.
- Patients in isolation: 7, with five described as stable. Two had tested negative and were awaiting repeat tests after 72 hours.
- Contacts: all 135 traced, including nine outside Kenya. The first 20 finished 21-day monitoring and went home on 26 October.
- Quarantine releases: 46 people due to go home on 3 November, with the process expected to conclude by 11 November. Remaining contacts could be released in the two weeks after that.
Public Health Principal Secretary Mary Muthoni spoke at the ministry’s ninth Ebola response task force meeting, where Health Director General Dr. Patrick Amoth also reported on patients. Earlier, on 22 October, Dr. Amoth said “the end of this outbreak is within reach” after the country logged no new cases for several days.
When can Kenya declare the Ebola outbreak over?
The World Health Organization’s standard is 42 days, twice the longest incubation period of 21 days, counted from the point the last confirmed patient has tested negative or been safely buried, with no new cases. Kenya’s ministry says that clock has not started because patients are still in treatment.
The ministry has not published an end date, so any date is an estimate. As an illustration only: if the last patient cleared on 11 November, 42 days would run to 23 December 2026. A later clearance moves that date back day for day, and any new case resets the count.
| Milestone | Status as reported |
|---|---|
| Last new case confirmed | 19 October 2026 |
| First contacts released | 26 October (20 people) |
| Next release | 3 November (46 people) |
| Contact releases due to conclude | 11 November |
| 42-day countdown | Not started |
What does release from quarantine mean for the public?
Contacts who go home have completed 21 days of monitoring without symptoms. The ministry’s reasoning is that Ebola symptoms would have shown by then. Earlier reporting put 12 very-high-risk and 16 high-risk counties on the list for emergency supplies, and screening has continued at entry points. For the rules that apply to travellers and suspected cases, see our guide to Kenya’s Ebola rules.
Background on how the cluster grew is in our reports on the ninth case and contact tracing and the second death.
FAQ
How many Ebola cases has Kenya confirmed?
Nine confirmed cases and two deaths, as of the ministry’s 30 October update.
Is Ebola still spreading in Kenya?
The ministry reports a single cluster with no community transmission. No new case has been reported since 19 October in the sources reviewed.
Why hasn’t Kenya declared the outbreak over?
The 42-day countdown can only begin once all active infections have cleared. Patients are still being treated.
Should I still be worried about travelling?
Screening continues at entry points. Check the latest advice from the ministry and the WHO Ebola fact sheet.
Figures are drawn from Ministry of Health updates as reported by Citizen Digital (20 and 22 October) and Kenyans.co.ke (30 October). Check the ministry for changes after those dates.
